Buoyant game hoop

ABSTRACT

A game device formed of a flat, circular, plastics base member provided with buoyancy elements, a smaller, flat, circular, plastics hoop member from which a ball-passing net is adapted to be hung, an integral portion being provided on each member and extending from the plane of each respective member, and sleeve means connecting the ends of the extending portions to space the hoop member above the base member. The apparatus is used in swimming pools for playing games similar to basketball and, in some respects, similar to water polo.

United States Patent Reyes [451 Apr. 18, 1972 [54] BUOYANT GAME HOOP 3,469,844 9/1969 Sindelar ..273/105 [72] Inventor: Gilbert Reyes, El Monte, Calif. 3,489,182 1/1970 Cameron ..9/8 73 Assignee: Albert J. Jacobs, Van Nuys, Calif. 21 part OTHER PUBLICATIONS interest Water Fun Argo Industries Corp., 3/ 10/65 [22] Filed, Jam 28, 1970 Ideal, Pools & Inflatables, 1965 Catalog, 3/ 10/65 [2]] Appl. No.: 6,418 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant ExaminerMarvin Siskind 52 US. Cl. .273/105 R, 9/8, 272/1 B Jackma" [51 Int. Cl. ..A63b 63/00 57 AB TRACT [58] Field ofSearch...- ..273/102.4, 105, 102, 1.5 R; 1 S

9/3 A game device formed of a flat, circular, plastics base member provided with buoyancy elements, a smaller, flat, circular, 5 References Cited plastics hoop member from which a ball-passing net is adapted to be hung, an integral portion being provided on each UNITED STATES PATENTS member and extending from the plane of each respective member, and sleeve means connecting the ends of the extend- 29397O7 6/1960 ing portions to space the hoop member above the base 2,570,860 10/1951 member. The apparatus is used in swimming pools for playing 889,293 6/1908 games similar to basketball and, in some respects, similar to 1,930,673 10/1933 water m 2,549,475 4/1951 3,430,958 3/1969 Lakeman ..273/ 105 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 8 1972 INVENTOR. 6/1. BERT RE YES BUOYANT GAME HOOP BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention Apparatus for use in swimming pools for playing games similar to basketball and, in some respects, similar to water polo.

Description of the prior art A buoyant game device for the same purpose as above com prising a completely circular base and hoop, a plurality of spacer legs supporting the hoop from the base, and a separate fitting connecting both ends of each spacer leg to said base and hoop.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A buoyant game device comprising, generally, a flat, circular base 5 fonned as a split ring provided with integral upwardly and inwardly angularly directed connection means 6, float means 7 provided on said base to render the same buoyant, a flat, circular hoop 8 formed as a split ring provided with integral downwardly and outwardly angularly directed standard means 9, and connectors 10 for separably joining the connection means 6 and 9 to space the hoop 8 above the base 6, the angle of the respective means 6 and 9 being such as'to form an inwardly sloping standard that locates the mentioned split rings in substantially concentric relation, the above generally described device constituting a buoyant support for a net 11, that is adapted to hang freely from the hoop 8.

It is an object of the invention to provide a floating game device of the character referred to that comprises few parts that are readily and economically assembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a buoyant game device, as characterized, that, while light in weight and formed of flexible material, is yet substantially non-deformable in use.

'A further object is to provide a buoyant game device that is readily knocked down for ease of packing and shipment, and is capable of ready assembly for use.

This invention also has for its objects to provide such means that are positive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a working position and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture, relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description, which is based on the accompanying drawing. However, said drawing merely shows, and the following specification merely describes, one embodiment of the present invention, which is given by way of illustration or example only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present device, the usual net used in such devices being omitted.

F [6. 2 is a front elevational view thereof, showing the net in place.

FIG. 3 "is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT While the present elements 5, 8 and the standards 6, 9 may be formed of a variety of materials, of which lightweight metal, as aluminum, is an example, said elements are most advantageously formed of polyvinyl chloride or a comparable synthetic thermoplastic resin in tubular form.

The elements 5 and 8, due to the thermoplastic properties thereof, may be bent in circular form to provide the element 5 with a ring portion 15, and the element 8 with a ring portion 16. Said element 5, for like reasons, may be bent at 17, where the ends of said ring portion join the standard extensions 18 that comprise the connection means 6. Similarly, the element 8 may be bent at 19, where the ends of ring'portion l6 join the standard extensions 20 that comprise the connection means 9.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the two extensions 18 of the ring portion 15 are in parallel and closely-side-by-side relation. The two extensions 20 of the ring portion 16, similarly, are in parallel, closely side-by-side relation.

It will be evident from the foregoing that each when the ends of said extensions 18 and 20 are aligned and joined by the connectors 10 the ring portions 15 and 16 all integrally connected in a manner that obviates relative movement or play between the base and hoop and the respective extensions thereof.

The connectors 10-, as shown in FIG. 3, are tubular and have telescopic connection with the ends of the extensions 18 and 20. In practice, the two connectors may be fixedly joined, by heat or in other ways, to either the extensions 18 or 20, and separably telescopically connected to the other such extensions for easy connection or separation, as required. The latter connection may be friction-tight to retain the assembly, but should allow of separation, as desired. Pins, screws, or other such fasteners, may be employed to retain the separable connection.

The float means 7 is shown as a plurality of sections 21 that are strung on the ring portion 15 of the base 5, the same being porous and compressible, and preferably forced on the ring portion to the desired positions in which they will remain until displaced. Said sections are slid onto said base ring before the extensions 18 are bent.

The sections 21 may advantageously be formed as cylindrical parts of polyvinyl chloride foam, polyurethane foam, or any similar cellular plastic material.

Whether the elements 5 and 8 are fonned of plastics or lightweight tubular metal, the float sections 21 may be formed as above indicated or of a suitable buoyant composition of or containing cork, cellulose, and the like.

An alternative connection of the extensions 18 with the extensions 20 may comprise an enlargement on the ends of the extensions 18 so that the ends of the extensions 20 may be tightly telescopically fitted thereinto. A reversal of such a connection may be used.

.While the foregoing has illustrated and described what is now contemplated to bethe best mode of carrying out the invention, the construction is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A buoyant game device comprising:

a base formed of tubing bent to comprise a flat, split rin portion, and standard extension portions on the ends of said ring portion and directed at an angle from the plane of said ring portion, said extension portions being in parallel and close side-by-side relation,

buoyant means provided on the mentioned ring portion,

a hoop smaller than the base and formed of tubing bent to comprise a flat, split ring portion, and standard extension portions in parallel and close side-by-side relation on the ends of said ring portions and directed at an angle from the plane of the latter ring portion, and

connectors telescopically engaging aligned end portions of the standard extensions of the base and hoop and connecting the same to form a standard that spaces the hoop ring portion above the base ring portion, the connected extension portions of the base and hoop being directed at an angle that maintains the base and hoop concentric.

2. A buoyant game device according to claim 1:

the direction of the standard extensions of the base being upwardly and inwardly, and of the standard extensions of the hoop sloping connected standard extensions forming a sloping standard spacing the base and hoop split ring portions.

3. A buoyant game device according to claim 2, in which the hoop split ring portion is diametrally smaller than the base split ring portion, the slope of the standard being such as to which the tubing of the base ring extends.

6. A buoyant game device according to claim 5 in which the mentioned sections are formed of cellular plastics.

7. A buoyant game device according to claim 1 in which the respective standard extensions of the base and of the hoop comprise integral portions bent from the end of the split rings of said base and hoop. 

1. A buoyant game device comprising: a base formed of tubing bent to comprise a flat, split ring portion, and standard extension portions on the ends of said ring portion and directed at an angle from the plane of said ring portion, said extension portions being in parallel and close side-by-side relation, buoyant means provided on the mentioned ring portion, a hoop smaller than the base and formed of tubing bent to comprise a flat, split ring portion, and standard extensiOn portions in parallel and close side-by-side relation on the ends of said ring portions and directed at an angle from the plane of the latter ring portion, and connectors telescopically engaging aligned end portions of the standard extensions of the base and hoop and connecting the same to form a standard that spaces the hoop ring portion above the base ring portion, the connected extension portions of the base and hoop being directed at an angle that maintains the base and hoop concentric.
 2. A buoyant game device according to claim 1: the direction of the standard extensions of the base being upwardly and inwardly, and of the standard extensions of the hoop being downwardly and outwardly; and the connected standard extensions forming a sloping standard spacing the base and hoop split ring portions.
 3. A buoyant game device according to claim 2, in which the hoop split ring portion is diametrally smaller than the base split ring portion, the slope of the standard being such as to locate the hoop and base ring portions concentrically to dispose a net hung from the hoop ring portion centrally in the space between said ring portions.
 4. A buoyant game device according to claim 3 in which the tubing of the base and hoop is formed of polyvinyl chloride plastic.
 5. A buoyant game device according to claim 4 in which the buoyant means comprises a plurality of sections through which the tubing of the base ring extends.
 6. A buoyant game device according to claim 5 in which the mentioned sections are formed of cellular plastics.
 7. A buoyant game device according to claim 1 in which the respective standard extensions of the base and of the hoop comprise integral portions bent from the end of the split rings of said base and hoop. 